Domed false bottom for boil in Grainfather

[jaymosbeershack]

I brew in a grainfather and have been using a hop spider for the last few batches. The decrease in usage of hops is very noticeable so I'm looking for a better option. I'm thinking about adding a domed false bottom. My only question is, with the heating elements essentially under the kettle, will it effect the boil? I really want to be able to just throw hops in. Thanks for your help.

 

[couchsending]

Why?

I’ve put upwards of 10oz of hops into a Grainfather with zero issues... actually the more hops the better the filtration IMHO.

Probably close to 80 batches on mine, used a hop slider for 3, never again.

 

[jaymosbeershack]

Why?

I’ve put upwards of 10oz of hops into a Grainfather with zero issues... actually the more hops the better the filtration IMHO.

Probably close to 80 batches on mine, used a hop slider for 3, never again.

You use the stock pickup tube screen/filter? I put 10oz in and was scraping it with my mash paddle for the whole chilling process just to keep it running. That's when I added the spider.

 

[couchsending]

10oz, no scraping no problem. The hops act as a better filter bed than the standard screen. If you run back into the Grainfather for a little it will help to clear your wort even more. Without the hops I think you end up with more Trub in the fermenter. Whirpooling the wort and letting it sit for 15 definitely helps.

 

[jaymosbeershack]

Maybe it was clogged with proteins or similar it was a cold day and my boil wasn't strong. I'll go right in next brew and see. Thanks for the advice.

 

[Smellyglove]

Are you talking about the same type of hops? Pellets vs whole hops?

 

[jaymosbeershack]

I'm talking pellet

 

[thehaze]

Never had any problems whatsoever with the 29 batches brewed with the Garinfather. Just like couchsending, I've used anything between 5 and 10 oz hops loose in the kettle and never experienced any issues transferring clear wort into the fermenter or clogged filter/pump.

There are some few, simple things you can do to make your life easier. The dollars invested in a hop spider are better put to use towards a CO2 canister or an used keg or even a pH meter, which is definitely a much better item to have for brewing, than a hop spider.

I used both leaf and pellet hops, although I stick to pellets.

 

[jaymosbeershack]

You guys were dead on. Just put 7 oz in a batch with no spider or bag. Less trub in the fermenter than any batch with the spider. Thanks for the advise.